Jordan Davis’ Production Will Be Key Part Of Eagles’ Defense

Opponents will have to pick their poison of who they want to leave in a one-on-one matchup when facing the Philadelphia Eagles this fall. Despite names like Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Haason Reddick, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat, it’s the newest Eagles first-rounder, Georgia’s Jordan Davis, that has drawn headlines with dominant play in his first NFL camp.

A man built in the mold of a condominium complex, Davis’ size alone makes him a gap-clogger, and tackle-for-loss monster along the guts of a high-octane, veteran Philadelphia front. Still just 22 years old, as he continues to develop, and—frighteningly—gets stronger and quicker, Davis’ performance ceiling is uncapped working within a front four rotation of tier one pocket pushers.

Jordan Davis against Cam Jurgens.

Goodness gracious.

pic.twitter.com/qQegccIbev

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) August 8, 2022

The anchor along what was a historic Bulldogs defense last fall, Davis couldn’t have hand-picked a better spot to begin his professional tenure—with an organization with an itch for consistently adding depth along the defensive front. 

It was a surprise to many within the industry when Davis dropped to 15th overall during April’s draft. Why? Well, when you’re 6-foot-6, 341 pounds, move like a linebacker, and enjoyed the production Davis did in the SEC, you usually don’t have to wait until the middle of night one to make your walk across the stage. While you could say it was more of the 14 teams in front of Philadelphia that prioritized positional value, the NFL flat-out got cute, and Davis was a gift that fell right into the lap of general manager Howie Roseman. 

While we live in a constant evaluation period in which athletes ‘made in a lab’ pop each and every draft cycle, Davis is the outlier of outliers. Humans shouldn’t be able to move the way he does at his mass. Even now at the highest level of the game, he will occupy multiple bodies at all times, freeing up the deep list of aforementioned talents to get after the quarterback this fall. With Nakobe Dean joining him along the front seven, the two are going to give opposing offensive coordinators fits as they gameplan for the Eagles each and every week. 

A ton of success at Georgia came via Dean’s ability to work downhill. A quick processor in occupying gaps left vacant by the bodies tasked with blocking Davis, the rapport between the two has had no issue in transferring to the NFL level.

Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean are going to be a lot to handle for a long time in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/YRzkflZGrX

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) August 13, 2022

For an Eagles roster with NFC East title aspirations this fall, Jordan Davis’ production—and health—will remain paramount to Philadelphia reaching their defensive performance ceiling in 2022. With all the potential in the world to truly become one of football’s elite game wreckers, early signs have showcased one of the most unique athletes just now scratching the surface of his otherworldly ability.